Cancer
Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Inhibits Breast Cancer Growth
By David Liu Ph.D.
Aug 31, 2005 - 12:44:00 AM

Dietary intake of omega 3 fatty acids such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) may curb the growth of breast cancer cells, according to a study published on May 17, 2005 on the Web site of the International Journal of Cancer.

The study was conducted both in mice and cultured breast cancer cells. In the study, mice implanted with breast cancer cells were fed diets rich in either fish oil (omega-3 fatty acids) or corn oil (omega-6 fatty acids).

Researchers found that three weeks after the breast cancer cell implantation, the tumor volume and weight were significantly lower in the mice on the fish oil diet compared to that on the corn oil diet.

Results from in vitro experiments indicated DHA and EPA inhibited the growth of cultured breast cancer cells by 20 to 25 percent.

Min Wu and colleagues at Methodist Research Institute, Indiana University and Purdue University in Indianapolis, Indiana conducted the study, which was funded by U.S. Department of Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.